Mountain Walking with your Dog

Man’s best friend makes the perfect companion for a day in the hills, We hate to leave Marla behind when we go out and adventure. They love to explore and smell all that the world has to offer but we want to make sure our beloved fluff ball comes back safely. Here’s a few things to think about before lacing up your boots.

What can your dog do?

This may go without saying, think about your route, check the map out and then think about your dog’s abilities. An older dog or one less used to long walks may not be able to do as much as others. Think about the breed too, our collie will happily walk through the mountains for days, our friends yorkie-poos may struggle.

Carry Food and Water

Just like us, Dogs need to eat little and often while out all day. Carry plenty of food or treats and water and make sure they have a snack and a drink every time you do. If they’re cold, they need to run around and food gives them the energy to do this. Remember, you may be walking 10 miles but the dog could run 20 with all the exploring they like to do.

What Kit do they need?

Usual lead and collar combination. Marla has a RuffWear Webmaster Harness for scrambles and longer mountain days. It’s fully padded and has a handle and attachments for a piece of rope. This allows us to do scrambles such as Jacks Rake in the Lake District with her and keep her safe. She also has fleece Booties for colder days or to protect her pads if necessary. If we were to take her out in very cold weather or she was easily cold we’d have a coat for her too. You can also get collapsible bowls, leashes that attach to the waist, hard bottomed booties and dog backpacks.

Dog Friendly First Aid Kit

Chapstick or Vaseline are good for sore paws, especially keeping cuts in pads clean. Vet wrap and the contents of your human first aid kit can deal with most doggy mishaps. You can also give your dog aspirin for pain and Antihistamine for allergy or snake bites but this must be in appropriate doses. You should discuss this with a Vet and be familiar with the dosage before packing these as part of your kit. There are also specific Doggy first aid courses you can attend.

When you’re out, remember to always keep an eye out for low energy, Injury or the impact of a particularly hot or cold day. Don’t be afraid to turn around or carry your dog if necessary, the trail will still be there tomorrow.

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7 Comments

I’ve a dog and we go for lots of hill walks. It wasn’t until the other day that I read about a Doggy first aid kit that I’d considered your dog may get an injury. Most look so robust that it’s easy to forget they’re not super human! Great advice.

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